Other Services: Charts/lead sheets: Professional computer-printed charts/lead sheets are also available, pricing is as follows: Basic Lead sheet: $25 (up to two pages); $10 each additional page I can also provide you with charts for individual instruments. Pricing is the same ($25 per chart, up to two pages; $10 each additional page) Pro musicians always appreciate it when an artist/bandleader can provide them with easy-to-read charts… it makes rehearsals go so much smoother!
Links to other great musicians who are equipped to play on your tracks: Drums: Frank Reina http://www.sessionsontheweb.com Nate Morton http://www.myspace.com/natemorton Kevin Stevens: http://www.kevin-stevens.com Shay Godwin: http://www.godwin.cc/shaydrums Dave Johnstone: http://www.davejohnstone.com Keys: Michael Bluestein: http://www.michaelbluestein.com Jeff Babko: http://www.jeffbabko.com Guitar: Jay Gore: http://www.jaygore.com Michael “Fish” Herring: http://www.colorblindfish.com Jaco Caraco: http://www.jacorocks.com/ Brett Farkas: http://www.myspace.com/brettfarkas
The philosophy: Bass Tracks Online was created to offer songwriters, composers, producers, bands, engineers, and other music professionals a simple and affordable way to add solid, tasty, REAL bass tracks to their songs. These days, project studios are easy to put together, and more and more people are getting into the art of home recording. However, not everyone has the means to get the right bass parts on their projects. Perhaps you’re a multi-instrumentalist, but your bass skills are a bit too limited for the song you are currently working on… or maybe you don’t personally know any bass players worthy of your music… or it might be that you simply want to get great bass tracks on your project without leaving the confines of your comfy studio, and you don’t feel like hiring someone to come to you, paying their cartage, etc. In any case, Bass Tracks Online provides the perfect solution to these woes of bass-deprived home recording.
The Player: Described as a “versatile monster” by his peers, Derek Frank has been a fixture on the Los Angeles music scene since 1997. He started his professional career in Cleveland, Ohio, where (while attending high school) he honed his chops playing in jazz clubs, cover bands, and playing for local musical theatre productions. He studied music at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Interlochen, Michigan, and at the University of Miami. Since his arrival in LA, he has proven to be an in-demand musician both on stage and in the studio. In addition to having done hundreds of recording sessions with independent artists, producers, and composers, his recording credits include artists such as Brian Auger, Jennifer Paige, and Jonatha Brooke, producers such as Todd Rundgren, Neil Avron, and Greg Poree, and he has played bass on tracks alongside such legendary musicians as Vinnie Colaiuta and Joe Sample. Derek has also recorded music for the television shows "Ally McBeal", "Malcolm and Eddie", "State of Grace", and “Malcolm in the Middle”. His live performance credits include artists such as Aly & AJ, Brian Auger, 2007 Dancing With the Stars tour, Siedah Garrett, Lari White, Alejandra Guzman, Jennifer Paige, Christina Aguilera, Rachel Yamagata, and Bonnie McKee. This is in addition to the plethora of Pop, Rock, R&B, Funk, Jazz, Latin, and Theatre gigs he has done with lots of people you’ve probably never heard of :)
The Goods: We’ve all heard it before… when a great bass player is asked how he gets his fabulous tone, the typical response is: “my sound is in my hands”. While this is true to an extent, it helps to have good-sounding instruments and equipment. Derek’s arsenal of basses includes the best of the old-school and new-school. Fretted, fretless, solid-body, hollow-body, 4-string, 5-string, nylon-string, roundwounds, flatwounds, fingers, thumb, pick, or keyboard, rest assured that Derek has all the necessary tools and techniques to create just about any bass sound you are looking for. For a detailed list of Derek’s basses, pedals, and recording equipment, along with mp3 examples of each, click HERE.
The Studio: Derek typically records his basses through an Avalon U5 direct box and Empirical Labs Distressor (compressor), directly into Digital Performer via a MOTU 2408 interface. This is the setup used for practically 90% of his clients. For clients desiring a mic’d cabinet/room sound, Derek utilizes IK Multimedia’s Ampeg SVX plug in. This is basically a virtual bass amp, that allows for choosing several different classic and modern Ampeg head/cabinet combinations. A variety of mics can also be chosen, along with varying degrees of ambient/room sound. Tracks can be exported in many different formats, including WAV, AIFF, and SD2. Details pertaining to format, sample rate, direct vs. mic, etcetera can be discussed once you contact Derek about your specific project. How To Make it Happen: First, fill out the work request form with details about your project. Note that any information you provide will be kept strictly confidential, and never shared with anyone. Once an agreement has been made pertaining to session date/time, price, etc., you will be provided with instructions on where to upload your song(s). Songs can be in MP3, WAV, AIFF, or SD2 format, but must be a stereo track, preferably with a click track and count-off. Pricing: Prices vary from project to project, depending on what is needed. In most cases, once the initial work request form is filled out, we will contact each other by phone to discuss exactly what your needs are for the project in question. Prices are basically as follows: Basic bass track, client provides chart (pdf or jpg): $125 Basic bass track, no chart provided: $150 If you require overdubs, multiple bass parts, or anything out of the ordinary, we can discuss pricing for all that. Volume discounts are available for clients recording complete albums, or at least require bass on 5 or more songs. The ultimate goal here is your satisfaction; so, of course, these prices do include a couple revisions/changes/fixes within reason. The process generally goes a lot smoother if you can be very specific about what you want (i.e. “I want this to be really simple”, “put a few fills in on this section”, “Think James Jamerson on this one” etc.). But please do keep in mind, this is a professional bass player you are hiring, with solid musical instincts. Payment must be submitted via paypal. If you don’t have an account, just go to paypal.com and set one up. It’s fast, easy, secure, and free. Once payment is received, the session can begin! When finished, I’ll send you preview MP3s for you to check out, and when the final tracks are done, I’ll provide you with a link on where to download them. CDs can also be mailed to you if you so desire. It’s as simple as that! Sessions can also be conducted in real-time, provided you have iTunes and iChat installed on your computer. If you prefer to do a session in real time, just let me know and we can discuss the specifics. Other Services: Charts/lead sheets Pick Kevin’s brain about picking a template, FTP/idisk info, building site Pick Tony’s/Zook’s brain about recording techniques, compression, blending two separate bass tracks (one direct, one “mic’d” with svx) Figure out how to do real-time sessions with Nicecast , itunes, and ichat My instruments, L to R: Rob Allen semi-acoustic nylon-string 5-string fretless, Roscoe 5-string fretless, custom Performance 5-string Jazz Bass, Fender 5-string Jazz Bass, Hofner Club Bass (hollowbody), 1963 Fender Precision, Celinder P-bass, Celinder Jazz Bass, Music Man Stingray (modified w/ Seymour Duncan pickups and Bartolini preamp), early 1970's Univox Coily (hollowbody)
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